2 Easy Methods to Claim VAT Refund for Tourists in UAE 

The VAT Refund Scheme is one of the most popular and attractive schemes introduced by the UAE Government in the last quarter of 2018.

It allows tourists and visitors to shop in UAE Tax Free during their stay. Many tourists and Visitors still don’t know about this scheme and miss out on potentially hundreds of dollars that they can save.

It is important to know that not all products are eligible for this refund scheme. So, in this article, we will explain to you how you can make the most out of this scheme and clear up any confusion regarding the VAT reimbursement in UAE.

Scheme	Tourist Tax Refund
Country	United Arab Emirates
VAT Rate	5%
Minimum Purchase	AED 250
Currency	250 Dirhams
Service Hour	24/7
Service Fee	AED 4.80 for each tax-free tag Request for 13% deduction via VAT amount
Time	5 Minutes, Kiosks: 3 Minutes
Refund Time	Cash: Instant and Card: 9 days

What is Vat and Vat Refund Tax? 

Value Added Tax (VAT) refers to the consumption tax that is added on consumer goods and materials. The current VAT for products in UAE is 5%. And you can get back the money paid for the VAT amount.

Currently, tourists and visitors can claim 85% of the VAT they pay on their items. For example, if you paid $50 VAT on an item then you can get a $42.5 VAT refund.

You claim a VAT refund at Dubai airport or store and takes no more than a few minutes.

Eligible for the VAT refund in UAE for Tourists

You must fulfil the following criteria to be eligible for the VAT refund in the UAE:

1. Tourists/Visitors must be above 18 years old and not UAE nationals.
2. Must get
3. Goods purchased must be in the FTA (Federal Tax Authority) scheme. 
4. The item must be for personal and not commercial use. 
5. The tourist must be physically present with all the required receipts/documents to claim a refund. 
6. The scheme is only available to items purchased within the last 90 days (about 3 months) before the departure. 

Documents required for the VAT refund

You must provide the following documents for the VAT refund:

1. Valid Travel Document 
2. Tax invoice of their purchase 
3. Copy of passport  
4. Copy of credit card 
5. Tax-free tag 

*The item that you are claiming the VAT refund for also must be physically present with you. 

How to get Tax Free tag?

To get your tax-free tag on the purchase of any item inside the United Arab Emirates you should inquire with the store clerk whether the product is part of the VAT refund scheme.

Then, Request for the tax-free tag from the store clerk after which the clerk will keep your record in the Planet System and give you the tag on your receipt. Keep this Tax-free tag safe as you will need it for claiming VAT during departure.

2 Easy ways to Claim VAT Refund in UAE for Tourists 

There are currently 2 ways of getting your VAT refund. (Manned desk and self-service kiosks). However, for larger expensive items you may need to specifically go to a manned desk. 

Via Manned Desk

There are many manned desks centers all over the airport, border, and DOCK near the exit point which will provide you with your refund.

The working hours may differ depending on the airport you are at, so look up the working hours of the desk through the Airports website or customer service.

STEPS: Go to the Manned desk with the items and the documents as listed above and the desk clerk will help you with the refund process. This process roughly takes around 5 minutes. 

Via Self–Service Kiosks

The self-service Kiosks are available 24/7 and are easy to use. The refund process is made a lot easier by them, all you need to do is locate and scan the required documents. If you see a green light that means your refund request has been accepted and you can choose a refund process of your choice either cash or credit/debit card. However, if you see a red light, it means your refund has been declined.

VAT Refund via self-service Kiosks is convenient and takes less time without any intervention from others you can do it yourself and it takes no more than 3 minutes.

Video Guide to VAT Refund via Kiosks

Before you go.

Tourists can shop tax-free on products within the RTA scheme inside the UAE. Getting the Refund is an easy process if done correctly by presenting the documents correctly to the refund desk clerk or the self-service kiosk.

You can shop smart and save during your holidays in Dubai, or any other state in the United Arab Emirates.

FAQs